The World’s Best Rum Comes From This Caribbean Island
There’s a new best rum in the world. Martinique’s Trois Rivieres was crowned World Champion at the recent seventh annual Caribbean Rum Awards St Barth, with its Triple Millesime 2006 – 2014 – 2016 winning double gold in the region’s top rum competition.
The Triple Millesime fought off seven other ultra-premium rums in a blind tasting by 10 expert judges from North America and the Caribbean hosted at the Rosewood Le Guanahani St Barth.
A Martinique rum has won the World Championship four of the past five years at the event, solidifying the island’s place as the rum capital of the world (Martinique is home to more rum distilleries than any other country on earth).
Overall, nearly 60 rums were tasted across seven different categories. The World Championship category includes both molasses rum and rhum agricole, featuring rare, ultra-premium expressions that represent the best efforts of respective distilleries.
The jury is part of a wider weeklong festival in St Barth featuring beach rum parties, master classes, rum pairing dinners and tasting events, headquartered at the Rosewood Le Guanahani St Barth, Le Barthelemy and Les Ilets de la Plage hotels. The event is presented by Wimco St Barth Properies and Tradewind Aviation.
“This year was our best field yet, featuring an impressive assortment of premium, rare rum and rhum Agricole from top producers around the Caribbean,” said Alexander Britell, editor and publisher of Caribbean Journal and founder of the Caribbean Rum Awards St Barth. “Trois Rivieres’ Triple Millesime truly stood out as a remarkable expression of Caribbean rum-making.”
Judges included Alexander Britell, co-founder of the Caribbean Rum Awards and editor and publisher of Caribbean Journal; Guy Britton, managing editor of Caribbean Journal; Martinique-based rum expert Thierry Huyghes-Despointes;; Peter Berntsen, COO of Empire Social Lounge in Miami; Myssi Davis, founder of Rum Traveler; Jose Antonio Hernandez-Solaun, president of the Miami branch of the International Wine and Food Association; rum expert Ivan Jivkov; Simons Chase, editor of Cuba Journal; world-renowned Chef Guy Ferdinand; and Weshington, DC-based tiki and rum expert Ted Houseknecht.
“The Caribbean Rum Awards continues to grow each year as the premier celebration of Caribbean rum in the world,” said Guy Britton, managing editor and EVP of Caribbean Journal.
Don Q’s Reserva de la Familia Serralles from Puerto Rico was named World’s Best Rum at the 2023 edition of the event. Martnique’s Rhum Neisson had held that title for the previous four years.
This year’s event was presented by Wimco St Barth Properties and Tradewind Aviation.
The full results can be found below:
Best Gold Rum: Island Company Rum
Rhum Agricole Blanc Guadeloupe
Double Gold – Marie Louise 71
Gold – Reimonenq Coeur de Chauffe
Silver – Rhum Karukera 59
Bronze – Rhum Longueteau Le 62
Rhum Agricole Blanc Martinique
Double Gold – Rhum Saint James TOMBOLO
Gold – Rhum Clement Canne Bleue 2024
Silver – Trois Rivieres Cuvee de l’Ocean
Bronze – Baie de Tresor Blanc
VSOP
Double Gold – Trois Rivieres VSOP
Gold – Rhum JM VSOP
Silver – Rhum Bielle 4 ans
Bronze – Rhum Saint James VSOP
XO
Double Gold – Reimonenq 7 Ans
Gold – Rhum JM XO
Silver – Rhum Bielle 2016
Bronze – Rhum Clement XO
Hors d’age
Double Gold – Rhum Bielle 2013
Gold – Rhum JM 2013
Silver – Rhum Karukera Cuvée 235 Anniversaire
Bronze – Trois Rivieres Cask Strength
Premium Molasses Rum
Double Gold – Ron Eminente 7
Gold – Mount Gay Eclipse Navy Strength
Silver – Don Q XO
Bronze – Papa’s Pilar Dark Rum
World Championship
Double Gold – Trois Rivieres Triple Millesime 2006 – 2014 – 2016
Gold – J Bally Grande Cuvée du Siècle 100 Ans
Silver – Rhum JM Canopée
Bronze – Plantation Legacy 120
World’s Best Rum 2024: Trois Rivieres Triple Millesime 2006 – 2014 – 2016
